John e



(No Model.) i J. R. NUNNS 85 ALSMITH.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEED.

110,28 ,591. Patented Nov, 13, 1883.

llllllllllllll/l El a "I J s N, PETERS. Phuwmnn m har, Washington v.0.

UNITE STATES ATENT FEFICEO JOHN R. NUNNS, OF MILFORD, AND JOSEPH A. SMITH, OF NEW HAVEN, ASSIGNORS TO THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BOILER AND ENGINE COMPANY,

OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,591, dated November 13, 1883. Application filed March 16, 1883. (No model).

f aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, J OHN R. N UNNS, of Milford, county of New Haven, State of Con necticut, and JOSEPH A. SMITH, of New Fla ven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Automatic Boiler-Feeds; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference markedthereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

t Figure 1, avertical centralsection, the parts 1 in the condition of proper water-level in the 2 ton of the pump, a valve in said passage which opens toward the piston, a passage leadingi'rom said pump to a valve-chamber which is provided with a valve one side of which is open toward the pump and the other 39 exposed to boiler-pressure, a discharge from said valve-chamber, whereby the overflow received by said pump from the boiler and thrown into said valve-chamber will raise the said valve and open the discharge-passage 3 5 from said chamber for the escape of the overflow, and a valve in the feed-water passage to the boiler in connection with said first valve, whereby when the said first valve is raised for the escape of the overflow it opens the water- 40 way from the feed-chamber andturns the feed water from its passage toward the boiler and permits it to escape, as more fully hereinafter described.

A represents the pipe which leads from the 5 feedpump to supply the feed-water to the boiler, and near the boiler is. provided with the usual check-valve, to prevent the return flow of water, also in the usual manner. This feed -pump and check-valve are too wellknown to require detailed description in this specification. From the boiler B, and at the point of desired water-level, an overflow-pipe, 0, leads to a pump, D, a valve, a, being arranged between the boiler and the pump. which opens toward the piston, and so as to be closed as the piston descends. So soon, then, as the water in the boiler has risen to the water line or opening into the outlet 0, the overflow will pass through this outlet-pipe to the pump D, and so that as the piston ascends it will draw into the cylinder any overflow which may pass from the boiler. Then as the piston descends it closes the valve a, and the water flows into a chamber, F, beneath thewalve G. This 65 valve G is in the form of a piston, and of a diameter corresponding to the cylinder in which it stands. From the valve-chamber is an outlet, H but the length of the valveG is such that when in its down posit-ion it passes below the opening H, so as to cut off the passage from the chamber F through the outlet H, as shown. The valve-casing extends upward to form a chamber, I, above the valve, which is open to steam-pressure by a tube, L, which leads from the boiler above water-line into the said chamber I, so that the valve G stands under boiler-pressure at all times, and that that pressure may serve to hold the valve G in its down position, the upper surface of the 80 valve G is made larger than the lower exposed surface, these differential surfaces giving a greater extent of bearing for the steam above the valve. As the water which has flowed from the boiler and been drawn into the pump D passes into the valve-chamber F, the pressure of the pump overcoming the pressure above the valve G raises that valve, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to permit the water to pass out through the opening H to the boiler or waste,

M as the case may be.

In order to out off the inflow from the feedpump when the water shall have risen above the water-line, a valve, (2, is arranged in the feed-pipe A, opening into the pipe, with a chamber, M, below it, from which is a dis charge-opening, N. From the valve d 'a stein, e, extends forward through a stuffing-box and in substantially axial line with a corresponding stem, f, extending upward from the valve G, and.also working through a suitable stuffing-box. When the valve G rises, as before described, it meets the stem of the valve d and raises the valve (1 to open the passageinto the chamber M below the valve (1. Then the Water which is delivered by the feed-pump will pass through into the chamber M, thence through the waste-passage N, it flowing in this direction because there is no resistance to the flow in this direction, while the check-valve offers a great resistance in the passage to the boiler. Therefore when this valve dis so open all the water delivered by the feed-pump will pass to waste, or wherever it may be desired.

.In case the water in the boiler be at or below the water-level, steam only will passto the pump and stand therein at boiler-pressure,

correspondingto the pressure above the valve. Then as the piston descends it will simply compress the steam; but the volume of steam is so small that the compression thus produced is not sufficient to raise the valve above the open ing I-Ithat is to say, the length of the valve G is made sufficient to yield to this compression of the steam without opening the discharge-passage H; but when the water comes to the pump, that being not compressible, like steam, will raisethe valve, as before described. In order that there may be this play or overmotion to the valve G, a short distance is left between'the twp valve-stems, so that the valve G may ascend a certain distance without acting upon the valve (1. This may be done by simply making the stems of such length that they will not come in contact until the valve G is raised above the point where the compression of the steam will naturally move it. When the overflow or surplus water has been thus taken from the boiler, the differential pressure of the steam upon the valve G, as before described, will cause it to close. Then the valve (1 will also close, and the supply of water again flow to the boiler.

It will be understood that the capacity of the feed-pump should be such as to supply substantially the ordinary consumption of the boiler, or very little more, and thus working a constant level in the boiler will be maintained, because so soon as thelevel is reached the surplus water will flow to the regulating-pump D and be discharged; or, if the water falls slightly below that level, the feed will continue until that level is again reached.

.As the stem 0 of the valve (1 will work with more or less friction through its stuffing-box, it isdesirable to apply some device to positively close it at the proper time To do this we attach a stirrup, h, to the stem f, and through the upper end of that stirrup extend the valve-stem e, and within the stirrup fix a collar, 1, 011 the stem 0, with which the stirrup will engage as it descends and draw the valved down to its seat. Then, as the valve G ascends a shoulder, m, on the stirrup will strike the collar Z and raise the valve (1, as

seen in Fig. 2. To adjust the stirrup in proper relation to the two stems it is screw-threaded onto the stem f, and provided with a set-nut, a, as shown. The shoulder in may also be adjustable in the stirrup, so as to engage the collar Z sooner or later.

The usual air-chamber for the feed-pump is provided, here represented at P as attached to the shell or case in which the valve (1 is seated.

XVhile we prefer to expose the valve G to boiler-pressure upon the end opposite that which receives the flow from the pump D, that pressure may be otherwise applied-as, for illustration, by a spring adjustable to the standard boiler-pressure. WVe also prefer to arrange the valve (Z with its stem in axial line with the stem of the valve G, for the reason that it makes the connection between the two simple and effective; yet they may be otherwise arranged, it only being essential that there shall be a connection between the two, so that when the valve G is raised it will impart its movement to said valve (1.

\Ve have illustrated the valved as between the pump and the boiler, to turn the feed-water from its passage toward the boiler, and this, we prefer; but it will bereadily seen that it may be arranged on the opposite side of the ton of the pump, a passage leading from said pump to a valve-chamber, a pistoirvalve, G, in said chamber, one end of said valve open toward said pump, the other exposed to boilerpressure, and a discharge from said valvechamber whereby the overflow received by said pump from the boiler and thrown into said valve-chamber will raise said valve G and open the escape-passage for said overflow, a valve, (1, in the feed-water passage to the boiler, operating in connection with said valve G, whereby when said valve G is raised for the escapeof the overflow it will also open the water-way from the feed-pump to permit the escape of the water delivered by the feedpump, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the pump D, having a passage communicating from the water-level in the boiler to the active side of its piston, a valve in said passage opening toward the piston of the pump, a passage leading from said pump to a valve-chamber, a pistolrvalve, G, in said chamber, one end of said valve open toward said pump, the other exposed to boiler-pressure, and of a greater area than said one end, and a discharge from said valvechamber whereby the overflow received by said pump from the boiler and thrown into pressure upon the end opposite that exposed 20 said valve-chamber will raise said valve G to saidpump D, the valve din the feed-water and open the escapepassage for said overflow, way, arranged in substantially axial line to a valve, cl, in the feed-water passage to the the valve G, each of said valves G and d pro- 5 boiler, operating in connection with said valve vided with valve-stems, and with a stirrup- G, whereby when said valve G is raised for connection, h, between said two stems, where- 2 5 the escape of the overflow it will also open by said valve G is free for a certain extent of the water-way from the feed-pump, to permit movement before it communicates its motion the escape of the water delivered by the feed to said valve (1, substantially as described.

10 pump, substantially as described.

I T T T 3. The combination of the pump I), the ggg fi ggg overflow-passage C from theboiler to the pump, valve a in said passage valve-chamber F,'00I1- Witnesses: nected with said pump by a passage, E, pis- JOHN E. EARLE,

I 5 ton-valve G in said chamber, exposed to boiler Jos. O. EARLE. 

